Vending machine



May. 15, 1928.

M. G. oNElL VENDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sh original Filed Deo. s. 1920 May 15. 192s. l1,669,775

M. G. ONEIL VENDING MACHINE Original FiledDeo. 3. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. IN1/Emol;

Patented May l5, 1928.

UNITED fS'T PATENT eFH/CE.

EATTH'EW G, ONEIL, OF DALLAS, .ASSIGNOEL BY IVIESNEy ASSIGNMENTS, TO

STANDARD`VENDING CORPORATION, 0F 'WILMINGTON, yIDELAWARTEJy A CORPORA- TION QF DELAWARE.

VENDING MACHINE'.

Application Med 4December 3, 1920, Serial No. 427,966. Renewed July 29, 1926.

The `invention relates to an improvement in vending machines of the type wherein small articles, such as chewing gum, candy andthe like, `are `delivered from lthe machine upon the insertion Aof a coin therein and the manipulation `of a lever lor plunger.

One object of the invention is to improve upon the construction and arrangement ot the parts 4colistitutin'g a machine of this character in order to produce la more simple, durable and eliicient machine. Other objects of the invention will appear `as lthe description proceeds. With these 4objects in view, the invention lconsists in the improved vending machine hereinafter described and particularly `pointed out in the appended claims.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a rear-'elevation 'of the improved vending ymachine with the back'cover removed and other parts broken away `to disclose the operating mechanism; Figs. 2 and `3 are vertical 4sections taken fon the lines 2-2 and -3-'3, respectively, of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a rontelevation on a reduced scale; Figs. t5 and 6 fare detail views illustrating diierent positions of `the plunger and the slide; Fig. `7 is Aa front elevation of the/tray for holding the articles to be vended; and Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the tray.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the operating parts of Ythe improved vending machine are shown fas enclosed in a box "or cabinet l thawing a front plate 2 which is removable for the purpose of inserting the gum, 4candy or other articles to be 'vended and 'for givingaccess to the operating mechanism. This plate is provided With lt-he vertically7 and horizontally arrangedW-indows y3 and 4 for displaying the merchandise.

The operati-ng mechanism tor delivering the'article `upon the inserti-on of 'a coin of the proper size and weight comprises a `vertically arranged reciprocating slide 5 and a vertically arranged reciprocating plunger 8 having fa fnger piece 19 projecting downwardly `belovs7 the bottom of the box. The plunger fis adapt-ed to be operatively connected 'with the slide by the interposition of a coin, as shown inFig. 6. The slide' i5 is provided 'with a latterally and downwardly projecting arm1`6, the lower part of vwhich -is provided with` a slot 7 yinwwhich is loosely engaged a lug I2S projecting rearwardly from `a pivotally 4mounted tray 'or `cradle 14.- 'or suporti-ng the :pile of articles to be vended. The plunger 8 is provided 4rWith spaced, upwardly projecting lugs or fingers 10 Which are adapted to receivea coin25 offproper size and Weight and ilift it into Contact with the slide 5, whereby Vthe arm 6 is raised to tilt the 'tray 14 to fdeliver there- 'from the .lower-most varticle '29- The slide `15 and the plunger 8 are held `in operative position by the guides 191and 20.

The box or cabinet 1 'is divided into three compartments. The front or largest `com-y partment, indicated yat 13, serves as a magazine in which the "gum,I candy or other articles lare stored, the lowermost garticle 29 resting upon fthe .tray Ior cradle 14. The second orxmiddlecompartment 15 serves K'as a ycoin slot through `which a `coin Vof .proper size *and Weight .passes into the `operating parts vof the "machine through ak coin chute 26. This compartment Visv formed by `the back plate 16 lof 'themagazine' and a cover plate `17. The 'third or Arearmost compartment 18 is Jformed betweenthe cover plate 1'7 andthe 'rear Wall of the :box or lcabinet 1. The slide i5 and plunger 8 operate in the compartment 18. E1n the lower part of the front .compartment 13 there is a projecting shelf "21 having .a curved bottom `22. The shelf '21 lactas a baille to prevent 4the insertion of anfimplement for tampering With the mechanism Land the curved bottom 22 acts `as a chute to deliver the article which has been discharged from the tray 14.

lVhen a `coizn25 is in position between the upwardly projecting lugs v1() of the plunger 8.and the `plunger is raised to bring the 'coin into contact with the Ilower ycurved `edge of the slide 5, the coin passes under the in-` wardlycurved upper edge ofza flat spring 27 which servesas a deector to deflect the coin into the fcoin receptacle. .As the arm 6 is holds in inoperative position) into engagement with the plunger 8. [n the plunger 8 is a notch 33 in which the end of the bolt 31 is adapted to be reeeived to prevent the plunger from returning to normal or inoperative position until after the plunger has` been pushed upwardly ifar enough to eause the eoin to pass be vond the upper edge ot the defleetor QT. Then the eoin reaehes this` point. a coiled. spring 3ldraws the. slide 5 bat-k to its normal position and at the same time ejects the coin through thx atehed part 35 over the top of' the detleetor QT vtrom which point the coin falls on the` beveled shelf T and thence into the coin tray 36 located in the bottom of the compartment 18. As the arm G returns to normal position with the slide 5 it contacts with the lever 30. thereby disengaging the bolt 31 from the notch 33 to permit the plunger to return to normal position.

The trav or carrier ]t is not tilted tar enough to deliver the lowermost artiele trom the maehine until the plunger has been pushed upwardly tar enough to rause the bottom of the eoin to pass the inturned lip or stop 3S formed at the port. or slot :BT in the plate tti. Then the eoin has reached and passed this point it 'annot be reused with another manipulation of the plunger. Moreover, the locking of the plunger b v the bolt 31 will prevent additional coins trom entering the space between the lugs or ting-ers- 10, as is clearly shown in Fig. 6. Before the plunger can return to normal position to permit the next eoin to fall into place between the lugs or lingers 10 the plunger must have been raised to the limit of its upward movement. It will be obvious that it there is more than one eoin in the coin chute 26 when the plunger is raised. the right hand lug or finger 1() will push the second eoin bark into the ehute again. This mechanism cooperates with onliT av single eoin at eaeh upward movement otI the plunger 8 to deliver the article. 'lhe tilting of the trav or eradle il sutlieientlv 'far to deliver the lowerniost article Q5) therefrom takes plaee substantially at the time the bottom of the coin passes be- `vond the upper inturned edge ot the detlector 27. As the tray is tilted, the inturned tingers or lugs 13a pass under the lowermost article Q9 of the pile or column 30 and hold the pile until the downward movement ot the arm 6 returns the tra)r to normal position. Thereupon the lugs 13 release the pile. which then settles down on the bottom ot the tray.

In order to prevent slugs and other spurious coin."` t'rom passing into the eoin chute Q6. a peculiarly shaped magnet 23 is located in the upper part of the coin compartment 15. It' the slug is composed of' iron, steel, or other metal affected b v magnetism, it will be attracted by the magnet, and as it falls under l 2G. and

the action ot gravity, it will be earried by the lower arm Ql ol' the magnet to a point. where it will drop on to the detleetor 2lbr and passL into the eoin traiv Slo. lll' tbe rein i1- under weight` or itl it i:`V romposed ol' rome material unatieeted b v magnetism. it will pass b v the magnet and tall upon the lever :Zll- (located below and to one .side otI the umg.- net), and be delwed therelrv on to the detleeor Il?, and thenee it will pass into the eoin traiv f'lt'. l t the eoin :25 is otI proper .eine and weight, it will tilt the lever it. (n'ereomiug the weighted arm 211 thereof. and be dt.l^ tleeted thereb",v into the eoin ehute Qt. trom which it will pass to the position ,shown in Fig. 5.

It the eoin or slug is composed ot a material unati'eeted b v magnetism. and is heavyv enough to overcome the weighted arm EH ol' the lever iat so as to pass` into the eoin rhute lvet under size, it will fall down between the lugs or tinger.` lt.)` these lingers being spat-ed apart; sutlieiently tar to permit the plunger S to raise only .lfull sized roins against the slide o, 'l`o prevent. the. under- .sized roim-y trom stirlaing between the lifling parts. the lower rear edge ol' the plate lt? is provided with a projecting guide or detleetor il?) whieh roept-rates with the beveled edge 1Q on the plunger LS' to detleet the undersized eoin into the rein trav 3G. ln order to permit the plunger 5 to pass treel)1 bv the guide 39 the, iront surt'uee ol' the plunger is provided with a \ertie:|ll \v arranged grom'e 11.

The mode ot operation ol.' the maehine has` been iudieated in eonneetion with the sperilie description ot the eonstruetion and mode. ot' operation ot. the various parts ot' the operating merhanisnl. i t is sullieientljt7 rerapitulated as vtollowfz-lt is aes'umed that a roin 25. of proper sine and weight. has been de'ioaited in the eoin .slot tf and that it has` tilted the lever 2l and pas-'ed through the eoin ehute it into the position shown in Fig. .3. between the upper edges of the lingersl lo ot the plunger tl. The raising ott the plunger brings the eoin in Contact with the slide :3 to raise the arm t3 and thereby tilt the trav ll. The upward movement of the arm (3 releafes the lever lt) to permit the bolt 31 to engage the plunger 8 and prevent, it Afrom returning to normal position until after the coin has passed the inturned upper edge. ot the detleetor Q7. The tray is not tilted tar enough to deliver the lowermost article 2f) therefrom until the bottom ol' the eoin has passed the inturned stop lti'f. lVhen the eoin has passed this point. the plunger cannot; return to normal position. Thus the plunger must be pushed tothe limit of its upward movement to deliver the goed` and at the same time raise the coin tar enough to canse it to pas#` beyond the detleetor 2T by which it will be detlerted imo lou IUS

lltl

ing,

#the coin ltray 36 lby the action 'of the spring 34 seeking to l'return theel-ide f5 Eto normal position. -When the *coinf'has been deflected from the deflector'i'theslide 5 land farm A6 4return to normal posi-tion, `at the Sametime `returning the tray 14 -to normal position and permitting the pile of lgoods to settle down -on bottom. 6 to normal position causes the leverf30-to again lock the bolt 3l and permit the plunger 8 Ato `return to normal position. -'The machine is now in A'condition to ib'e operated again. y f

Having' thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A coin-controlled vending machine having, in combination, a tiltable tray to support the articles to be vended, a slide connected With the tray, a plunger adapted to be 0peratively connected With the slide by a coin, a coin deflector interposed in the path of travel of the coin While on the plunger, a bolt adapted to cooperate with the plunger to prevent the return of the plunger to normal position until after the coin has passed the delector, and means controlled by the upward movement of the plunger for moving the bolt out of engagement with the plunger when the coin has passed beyond the de- Hector.

2. A coin-controlled vending machine havin combination, a tray for supporting the articles to be vended, a slide connected with the tray to actuate it to deliver the article resting on the tray, a plunger adapted to be operatively connected with the slide by a coin, a spring for returning the slide and tray to normal position, a coin dellector :interposed in the path of travel of the coin While it is on the plunger, and means controlled by the upward movement of the plunger for preventing the return of the plunger to normal position until after the coin has passed beyond the deiiector.

3. A coin-controlled vending machine having, in combination, a tray for supporting the articles to be vended, a slide connected with the tray, a plunger adapted to be opcratively connected with the slide by a coin. a stop projecting into the path of travel of the coin while on the plunger to prevent its return, the parts being arranged so that the tray does not deliver the article resting thereon until the coin passes the stop, a coin deflector -projecting into the path of travel of the coin, and means for preventing the return of the plunger to normal position after the coin has passed the stop until the coin has passed beyond the deflector.

4. A coin-controlled vending machine comprising a tiltable tray to support the articles to be vended, an actuated part connected with the tray, a plunger adapted to be operatively connected with said actuating part by a coin, means for disconnecting The `return iothe 4-ar-my the coin from "the fplunger `when the plu-nger ciprocat-ing plunger adapted `'to be opera-` tively -con-nected with the slide-by fa coin, ya stop in the 'path of travel of the `coin while it is on the plunger, a deflector interposed in the path of travel of the coin, and means for preventing the return of the plunger to normal position after the coin has passed the stop and until after the coin has passed beyond the deflector.

6. A coin-controlled vending machine having, in combination, a tray for supporting the articles to be vended, a vertically arranged reciprocating slide connected with the tray to -actuate it to cause it to deliver the article resting thereon, a vertically arranged reciprocating plunger adapted to be operatively connected With the slide by a coin, a coin deflector interposed in the path of travel of the coin While it is on the plunger, and means controlled by the slide for prevent-ing the return of the plunger to normal position until after the coin has passed beyond the deflector.

7. A coin-controlled vending machine having, in combination, a tiltable tray for supporting the articles to be vended, a vertically arranged reciprocating slide connected with the tray to actuate it 'to deliver the article resting thereon, a vertically arranged reciprocating plunger adapted to be operatively connected with the slide jby a coin, a coin delector interposed in the path of travel of the coinwhile it is on the plunger, a notch in the plunger, a bolt adapted to be engaged in the notch to prevent the return of the plunger to normal position until after the coin has passed be* yond the deflector, and means controlled by the slide for disengaging the bolt from the plunger when the slide has returned tov on the plunger, means for returning the parts to normal position when the coin has passed the deflector, and means controlled by the slide for preventing the plunger from returning to normal position until after the coin has passed beyond che delleelor.

9. A eoin-controlled rendiner machine l'lavingj, in combination, a tray l'or supportmef the articles lo lie vended, melun` Ifor artualingr the trayv to delirer (he article resiingf hereon. a plunger adapted lo lie operatively ronnerl'ed with lhe tray arlua'ine means by a. "oin. a stop interposed in the path of lrarel of the coin while it is engaged h v the. plunger lo prevenl'y the return of the roin. the parts beingarranged so that the traxf .is not actuated snfliciently to deliver the article thereon until the eon has passed the stop, a deflector in the palh of travel of the 00in` means for prevelningr the return of the plunger lo normal position until after the roin ha4 paseed the dellerlor. the downward mm'emenll of the plunger :miner lo delleel (he r'oin into a coin rel'epl'arle and permit the return olE (he paris lo normal posiion when (he coin hasy paSwd lmlrond the dellecl'or.

ln testimoniv whereof I have signed my name lo this Speeilieaiion.

MATTHEXV (l. (VN El L. 

